Wikipedia (
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"The UC San Diego Library consists of the Geisel Library building and the Biomedical Library building. There are also 3 off-campus locations: The Scripps Archives and Library Annex (available by appointment), the Annex (collections available by request), and the UC Southern Regional Library Facility (collections available by request).
The UC San Diego Library consists of the Geisel Library building and the Biomedical Library building. There are also 3 off-campus locations: The Scripps Archives and Library Annex (available by appointment), the Annex (collections available by request), and the UC Southern Regional Library Facility (collections available by request).
The Geisel Library building contains materials and services related to: Arts, Area Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Marine Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Social Sciences. It also contains the Mandeville Special Collections & Archives, which houses the Dr. Seuss Collection. The Dr. Seuss Collection contains original drawings, sketches, proofs, notebooks, manuscript drafts, books, audio- and videotapes, photographs, and memorabilia. The approximately 8,500 items in the collection document the full range of Dr. Seuss's creative achievements, beginning in 1919 with his high school activities and ending with his death in 1991.
The Geisel Library building is named in honor of Audrey and Theodor Seuss Geisel (better known as Dr. Seuss) for the generous contributions they have made to the library and their devotion to improving literacy. The Geisels were long-time residents of La Jolla, where UC San Diego is located.
The building is featured in the UC San Diego logo and is the most recognizable building on campus. It is located in the center of the campus with Library Walk to its south, Thurgood Marshall College to its West and Earl Warren College to its East.
The library first opened in 1970. It was simply called the Central Library until a renovation was completed in 1993, when it was rededicated as the University Library Building. It was renamed Geisel Library in 1995.
Design
The distinctive original building was designed in the late 1960s by William Pereira to sit at the head of a canyon. William Pereira & Associates prepared a detailed report in 1969. Pereira originally conceived of a steel-framed building, but this was changed to reinforced concrete to save on construction and maintenance costs. This change of material presented an opportunity for a more sculptural design. It was envisioned that future additions to the original building would form terraced levels around the tower base descending into the canyon, the first of which was designed by Gunnar Birkerts and completed in the early 1990s. In keeping with the original master plan, it was "deliberately designed to be subordinated to the strong, geometrical form of the existing library." Within its two subterranean levels are the other library sections as well as study spaces and computer labs. The tower is a prime example of brutalist architecture. It rises 8 stories to a height of 110 ft (33.5 m). The four upper stories of the tower houses collections, individual study space, and group study rooms.
A photo of the building taken by Julius Shulman was used as the cover image for James Steele's chronicle of Pereira's career.
The Nevada Museum of Art is planning an exhibit featuring the work of William L. Pereira. For the exhibit, they commissioned a video shoot from FortyOneTwenty, a San Diego studio. They used a remote controlled helicopter to get unique views of the building. Here is a sneak peek of the video."